Update for Everyone II - Less Boring, More Whoring

[Oakvale]

The whole idea of moving away to live in a dorm for college seems to be largely an American phenomenon, yes (Canada too?).

[God-Empress Stacey I of House Abrams]

You go to Sciences Po?! I did not know that!

Really? I think I mentioned it quite a few times throughout the past few years.

[Elizabeth Warren Beer Catastrophe]

The whole idea of moving away to live in a dorm for college seems to be largely an American phenomenon, yes (Canada too?).

I guess it's because we basically had no universities apart from those in the northeast up until the mid/late 18th century. Land was cheap and abundant out in rural areas, which made that an attractive alternative to locating a university in a major city. And a lot of our state universities were established to train farmers and do agricultural research, so they would obviously be located in small towns or rural areas.

[Averroës Nix]

The whole idea of moving away to live in a dorm for college seems to be largely an American phenomenon, yes (Canada too?).

Is it really that uncommon in Europe? What do students who don't live near a decent school that suits them do?

[God-Empress Stacey I of House Abrams]

The whole idea of moving away to live in a dorm for college seems to be largely an American phenomenon, yes (Canada too?).

How else would you do it, unless you happen to live near a decent school that suits you?

You generally buy an apartment in the city where the university is located. Or you accept to have a 1-hour commute time, as I did.

[Lief 🐋]

My friend studied abroad in Copenhagen and he lived in a dorm with Danish students. They had a bar in the basement.

[Averroës Nix]

The whole idea of moving away to live in a dorm for college seems to be largely an American phenomenon, yes (Canada too?).

How else would you do it, unless you happen to live near a decent school that suits you?

You generally buy an apartment in the city where the university is located. Or you accept to have a 1-hour commute time, as I did.

That's what I had assumed. But, Christ, an hour? I thought didn't tolerate that nonsense over there.

[Хahar 🤔]

Oh yes, and I fully expect the 'racist' accusations to pop up any minute now.

I'm not trying to be antagonistic at all here, but if your roommate is black, please say it directly. There's nothing wrong with pointing it out; black people and white people are different culturally. On the other hand, it is wrong to use racially coded language to imply that he's black ("gangsta", "hood"), so don't do that. If he's not black, then it just sounds odd to use those words.

I take issue with your statement that "black people and white people are different culturally."  That's a broad generalization.  Yes, he happens to be black.  Yes, he happens to enjoy rap and hip hop.  We'd be just as different from each other if he were white or I were black.  And for the record, I would've used the same language despite his race -- it doesn't sound odd to me if used in that context, personally.

No, you would not ever describe a white neighborhood as a "hood". Don't lie. I made an effort to assume good faith, but it's clear that you don't even understand what the problem is.

None of us are perfect in the language that we use, but thoughtful people pay attention when they use offensive language and agree not to use offensive language in the future. Don't pretend that what you said wasn't racist. You clearly anticipated the fact that people would call you out on it:

Oh yes, and I fully expect the 'racist' accusations to pop up any minute now.

Maybe instead of being preemptively defensive about the racist things you said, you could try not saying racist things. If for whatever reason you can't understand why it's not okay to describe black people or their communities with the terms "gangsta" or "hood", then don't worry about it. You don't need to understand if it's too difficult. Just don't use those words.

[God-Empress Stacey I of House Abrams]

The whole idea of moving away to live in a dorm for college seems to be largely an American phenomenon, yes (Canada too?).

How else would you do it, unless you happen to live near a decent school that suits you?

You generally buy an apartment in the city where the university is located. Or you accept to have a 1-hour commute time, as I did.

That's what I had assumed. But, Christ, an hour? I thought didn't tolerate that nonsense over there.

I had a pretty hard time getting used to it, but I eventually did. Over a week, this actually adds up to about 8-10 more hours lost, which is a lot considering that the typical academic class-time is of about 20 hours. On the other hands, having parents around saves me countless more hours (think cooking, etc.).

[Simfan34]

Black people and white people are different culturally.

This is a silly generalisation. Black people and white people are not homogenous groups; I know you know there may be white people who are "culturally" closer to blacks than other whites and vice versa.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Sorry to change the subject, but I appreciate everyone's support in here. I know she was just a cat, but it's tough. Thanks guys.

[Away, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe!]

I lost my cat in May of last year. I know how tough this is. I'm sorry for your loss.

[God-Empress Stacey I of House Abrams]

Black people and white people are different culturally.

This is a silly generalisation. Black people and white people are not homogenous groups; I know you know there may be white people who are "culturally" closer to blacks than other whites and vice versa.

Yeah, obviously I agree that Scott's words were silly and full of pretty awful implications, these kind of generalizations are VERY problematic themselves. Generally one should avoid sentences like "[insert racial group] are X".

[Senator Scott🦋]

Oh yes, and I fully expect the 'racist' accusations to pop up any minute now.

I'm not trying to be antagonistic at all here, but if your roommate is black, please say it directly. There's nothing wrong with pointing it out; black people and white people are different culturally. On the other hand, it is wrong to use racially coded language to imply that he's black ("gangsta", "hood"), so don't do that. If he's not black, then it just sounds odd to use those words.

I take issue with your statement that "black people and white people are different culturally."  That's a broad generalization.  Yes, he happens to be black.  Yes, he happens to enjoy rap and hip hop.  We'd be just as different from each other if he were white or I were black.  And for the record, I would've used the same language despite his race -- it doesn't sound odd to me if used in that context, personally.

No, you would not ever describe a white neighborhood as a "hood". Don't lie. I made an effort to assume good faith, but it's clear that you don't even understand what the problem is.

None of us are perfect in the language that we use, but thoughtful people pay attention when they use offensive language and agree not to use offensive language in the future. Don't pretend that what you said wasn't racist. You clearly anticipated the fact that people would call you out on it:

Oh yes, and I fully expect the 'racist' accusations to pop up any minute now.

Maybe instead of being preemptively defensive about the racist things you said, you could try not saying racist things. If for whatever reason you can't understand why it's not okay to describe black people or their communities with the terms "gangsta" or "hood", then don't worry about it. You don't need to understand if it's too difficult. Just don't use those words.

And here you continue to operate under the assumption that the objective of my comments was to illustrate my dorm mate's race rather than his own personality and individual sense of style.  What's truly racist is that you apparently like to project this standard for "white neighborhoods" versus "black neighborhoods" even though nothing in my post inferred anything about that.  Remember, it is you who specifically expressed that "black people and white people are different culturally."  You choose to view society through that set of lens.  I don't.

I would ask you to just stop interjecting race into the conversation in what I see as a pathetic attempt to veil your own racism, but then that would defeat the point of your accusations entirely.  So I'll leave you to wallow in your own delusions and think what ever you want about me until you come to realize the irony in your words.  Sound good?

[PR]

Black people and white people are different culturally.

This is a silly generalisation. Black people and white people are not homogenous groups; I know you know there may be white people who are "culturally" closer to blacks than other whites and vice versa.

It may be a generalization, but it's not necessarily silly.

[Riot like its 1776!]

Scott's wording was poor, but his point was ignored and twisted in order to make it appear that he is a racist. Yes, you could argue that Scott was being “insensitive”, but honestly, who the hell cares at this point? If minor errors in the wording of a sentence is now institutionalized racism in the mind of a certain poster, than he is either hypersensitive or flat out off the reservation.

This form of Social Justice Warriorism (stupid way to phrase it, but I couldn’t think of anything better) needs to stop.

[Lief 🐋]

Xahar is correct. Scott's feigning of ignorance and then outrage when he was called out about it (complete with "no you're the real racist" nonsense) is pretty gross.

[Simfan34]

Scott's wording was poor, but his point was ignored and twisted in order to make it appear that he is a racist. Yes, you could argue that Scott was being “insensitive”, but honestly, who the hell cares at this point? If minor errors in the wording of a sentence is now institutionalized racism in the mind of a certain poster, than he is either hypersensitive or flat out off the reservation.

This form of Social Justice Warriorism (stupid way to phrase it, but I couldn’t think of anything better) needs to stop.

Why can we reliably count on you to always defend this sort of thing?

[Хahar 🤔]

Scott's wording was poor, but his point was ignored and twisted in order to make it appear that he is a racist. Yes, you could argue that Scott was being “insensitive”, but honestly, who the hell cares at this point?

Nobody accused Scott of being racist, only of making a racist statement. I was operating under the assumption that Scott was being offensive by accident and so I was explaining the issue with what he said. If he had acknowledged this and moved on, nobody would have held it against him. That he has doubled down and accused me of being the real racist was entirely his own choice.

[Elizabeth Warren Beer Catastrophe]

I do so enjoy it when a black Republican accuses people of being racist.

[Dave from Michigan]

Speaking of racism, I need to find some new friends who are not racist. I'm so terrible at making new friends though.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Speaking of racism, I need to find some new friends who are not racist. I'm so terrible at making new friends though.

Well, election maps won't help you make new friends.

[memphis]

How many pictures of Jesus are we talking about here? Do you have an icon corner? No worries about graven images?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I've already told a few people this privately but I've hesitated to tell the forum at large. I'm finally going the distance and going through a gender-presentation transition. (I'd use a less queer-theory-ese term for this but as it turns out none are really accurate.)

I understand if some of the more socon posters with whom I'm friendly aren't entirely comfortable with or accepting of this but I'd like to ask that they do the courtesy of not giving me grief over it. If anybody else gives me grief over it, I'll treat it as personal attack and use the report function accordingly.

Sounds like you are dealing with a lot of change in your life with this and starting grad school at the same time.  Hope it goes well for you.

[H. Ross Peron]

Leaving for Massachusetts in less than 24 hours

Where are you going to college?

Brandeis University. Just moved in.